1954 Frame identificaton

[Derf]

I just recently traded my bike for a 53FL4056. My intension was to build a chopper. When I got the bike I figured it was too original to chop. I just got done tearing the bike down. Not having any experience with panheads I had to look at my only book to check out if I had the right frame. The book is making it look like it is an early 54. It is a wishbone with flattened tubes and no horn mounting blocks.

I have a couple of questions.
Could my 53 being late in production have a 54 frame?
Is this an aftermarket frame? No head lock and motor mount is not a L slot

Thanks for the help.
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[ruiter.ca]

Looks like a shovelhead neck with that hole for the padlock. Quite possibly the whole top of the frame from the seat post forward is circa 70s Shovel ... Perry

[Panacea]

Somebody just welded a cap over the old lock hole, mine was the same way till I dug it out to put a lock back in. The tab on the bottom was added for a padlock setup, I did the same thing on my 49 chop. Definatly a late wishbone IMO. Mike

[Cotten]

Note the square boss for a VIN to the upper left of the lock boss.

It's Chubblehead.

....Cotten

[VPH-D]

Looks like somebody installed a v-twin replacement neck for a 69 or later.
The frame itself appears to be the early 54 style, wishbone with later tool box mount. Scratch off the paint on the top motor mount and find the casting code.
VPH-D

[Cotten]

What's that sticking up in the middle of the spine between the seat and speedo mounts? Sure looks like one of those little plastic wire anchors that 70's Chubbles used.

And the spine to headstock weld is the only good one.

Look on the left side for a letter followed by four digits in 1/8" stamps ) or where one has bee defaced.)

....Cotten

[VPH-D]

Are any casting numbers visible on the rear axle plates and sidecar mount areas? The plastic frame clip is a shovel thing, as noted. But why is it on a wishbone frame?
VPH-D

[Panacea]

Wasn't 58 the last year for steering dampeners?

[Cotten]

I believe that the boss for the dampener pin survived through '84.

....Cotten

[Derf]

Let me start with thanking everyone and apologizing for taking so long to answer back. You guys were right about the neck. The key hole was solid with an A stamped on it. The top motor mount has a K1 stamped on it. Here is the rest
Axle plates Left XE-7 box 15 ( not sure what the box is)
Right XE-6 box 9
Side Car Mount Right 48E-761
Left 48E-762

[fourthgear]

November (K ) 1951 (1)?

[Guest]

If it was a 51 top motor mount wouldn't it have a L shape slot?

[VPH-D]

Look hard at the right side VIN number pad. Is there any evidence of old numbers being removed.
I have seen post 68 frames stamped with A or B on the closed end of the neck lock hole. The frame has the FX/FXE front gas tank hole drilled thru the old spring fork stop pad on the neck.
I think the neck or possibly the neck and backbone are much later than 54.
VPH-D

[fourthgear]

Parts and pieces put together form different years , maybe it was wrecked once and they used what they could find ?

[Derf]

I stripped the paint and it does look like they tried to round off the square VIN boss.